FIREBALL MINISTRY – Their Rock Is Not Our Rock

Even if Los Angeles Rockers Fireball Ministry claim that ”Their Rock is not our Rock,” it is an understatement to say that they have been influenced by bands like Motorhead and Ozzy Osbourne. Put in a little bit of Lemmy, with a little bit of Ozzy, and then just a tad of Hank Von Hell, and voila! You have James A. Rota II and Fireball Ministry.

Not a bad combination! Their new album Their Rock Is Not Our Rock might be a lot like music you have heard before, but most likely music you’ve always liked and forever will. Motorhead, Black Sabbath, and Ozzy solo have a lot of memorable hits that fans everywhere love and still listen to regularly. Hopefully, for Fireball Ministry, their music will be just as historical in twenty years.

This is their fourth album, but even if you have never heard of Fireball Ministry before, this CD will punch you in the stomach like a… oh, well… a fireball! This is the kind of music you’d listen to driving down the highway on Route 66 in an old American convertible with white leather seats, wearing those shades, and playing that good ole’ Rock ’N’ Roll just as loud as you’re driving.

Their Rock Is Not Our Rock has ten tunes, and not even one of them is bad. Unfortunately, when listening to most albums these days, you’ll find that almost half the songs are filler tracks. In this case, it’s a challenge to even pick out the weakest link …

Even if most every other song makes you think Lemmy/Ozzy, Fireball Ministry have made their own trademark on each song by their brand of fun, down to earth lyrics, and mix of guitar use — going from distorted to a typical Southern style guitar sound. Also most of these tracks are catchy enough to be hits for Fireball. The refrain on “It Flies Again” will keep playing over and over in your head; “The liars, the cheaters, the beggars stand back in disgust! The liars, the cheaters, the beggars put out if they must!”

While other bands hide behind great outfits and lots of make up, this Ministry hand it to you just like it is. With dark jeans and long hair, they look just as rugged at most Los Angeles bands these days, but not all L.A. bands have a beautiful blonde on guitars like Fireball Ministry does! Emily J. Burton plays guitars and backs James A. Rota II up on vocals. Alongside Johny Chow on bass and John Oreshnick on drums, these four have actually made it as far as supporting huge bands like Motorhead (surprise, surprise!), Danzig, Dio, Anthrax, etc., etc.

This is music that will engage young and old alike. As long as you like Rock ’N’ Roll, you’ll love this album! One of the songs that stands out from the rest is “Hellspeak;” the calmest song on the album, despite the title. Incredible guitar play in the beginning, leading to Chow’s dogged bass, mixed with to the outstanding refrain, is just what makes this song a winner. “Hellspeak” leads to what could be considered the album’s worst song, “Two Tears”… not a bad song at all, even has a catchy refrain, but it lacks that little extra that all of the rest of the songs have.

If there is anything to pick on about Fireball, it is that Rota’s voice sounds a bit too choked at times. Definitely has that Lemmy/Ozzy thing going on, but a bit of overkill at times. Picture this as one of these main men with a potato down their throat, and you’ll get the picture.

This is definitely an exciting surprise from Lalaland. Let their Rock be your Rock!